Joyce Ladine Leonard

Joyce Ladine Leonard, 75, left this earthly life on February 9, 2024, to join her parents on the other side.  She passed away peacefully at Sylvia G. Thompson Residence Center on her mother’s birthday.

She was born on May 31, 1948, in Sedalia, daughter of Howard and Nadine (Morton) Durrill. She spent her elementary and high school years between Sedalia and Fulton. In high school she was president of the FHA Club (Future Homemakers of America), which included being on the student council. It was during these years that she grew a love for sewing and made all of her own clothes.

In September of 1963, at the young age of 15 she met her lifelong sweetheart, Hans Martin Leonard, at their high school football game. On February 19, 1967, they were united in marriage at the First Baptist Church in Higginsville, Missouri.

Joyce was cheerful, caring, genuine, and kind-hearted. As a young mother, her way of socializing with others was participating in a weekly bowling league and a mother of twin’s club. As her children grew, she found enjoyment in socializing with other parents at school and church events. Later in life, she found satisfaction in participating weekly in her quilting group, Tai Chi, and Sweet Adelines Group.

She was active in her church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where she gladly served in several auxiliary groups, such as the Women’s Relief Society and the Children’s Music and Sunday school program. She was always willing to volunteer to help with other church activities and social events.

Throughout her life, she held many jobs; such as a school librarian, Geneva’s Boutique Shop, several department stores, Midcom - where she assembled delicate electronic components, and Interstate Studios in the remittance office. But her favorite occupation was learning and becoming a Reflexologist, which she did for the last 20 years. She found so much joy and happiness in this field because she was able to help others.

As much as Joyce loved the opportunity to work, her most treasured work was done inside of the home, as a wife and mother to 8 children. Due to her love of homemaking, she spent her time: baking, gardening and canning, sewing clothes for all her children, crafts of all kinds, scrapbooking and decorating for all holidays and seasons. Due to her exceptional ability to organize, she was able to create multiple photo albums and scrapbooks for each of her children.

Surviving are her husband, Hans and eight children; Edward Leonard of Green Ridge, Todd Leonard of Knob Noster, Jared and Emily Leonard of Green Ridge, Jason and Casey Leonard of Greenwood, Nathan and Rachel Leonard of Holden, Jane and James Phillips of Bellville, Texas, Martin Leonard of Knob Noster, Rebecca and Joseph Phillips of Katy, Texas; 35 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; brothers, Steve and Linda Durrill of Odessa and Jeff and Diane Durrill of Sedalia.

Funeral services will be held at Heckart Funeral Home in Sedalia, Missouri on Saturday, February 17, 2024 at 10:30, with family welcoming guests at 9:30.